Freelance Writing Jobs – 4 Simple Ways to Start

 Just to let you know, these 3 ways to find freelance writing jobs are the twenty ways I used when I first started out as a freelance writer. So they are proven tactics for newbies who want to become a freelance writer and land some writing jobs online.

1. Start Cold Pitching : Do you know cold pitching is a fabulous way to land recurring gigs? There’s much less competition and you’ll have a better chance at landing a gig when you contact clients directly.

What is cold pitching? It’s when you contact bloggers, entrepreneurs, companies, small businesses or startups and let them know how you – a freelance writer – can help grow their business.Yes, I know, it sounds hard (and scary) doesn’t it? Especially if you’re brand new to freelance writing. But, you know what? It’s totally easy to do.

First you need to locate businesses to cold pitch to. Maybe you noticed they don’t have a blog – but should. Or, on Twitter you see they are trying to grow their online presence and you think your content can help with that.Once you locate these places, all you have to do is draft up a cold pitch and send it off to the right person! This can be the hardest step and takes the longest but in the end you’ll have a list of businesses and contact information to pitch to.

2. Pitch to a Job Board Ad:  If you’re new to freelance content writing and you want to find quality jobs, responding to job ads is your best bet. It’s also the main way many new writers use for finding consistent work.

And it’s something I tell my course students to do as it helps you gain confidence as a new freelance writer.A bonus to using job boards over a freelance market place like Upwork or Guru to find a writing gig, is there isn’t any bidding. Entrepreneurs, small businesses, and start-ups post job ads to freelance writing job boards and you pitch to these ads. Sometimes you are asked to give your rate; other times the job ad specifies a starting rate for content. While there are paid job boards you can use, I would suggest you first start using free job boards. I was able to find my first freelance writing job writing 800-word blog posts for $100 on a free job board.

3. Ask Friends, Family and Work: Okay, this may be a no-brainer, but you never know until you ask! Before you make your leap into freelance writing, let your friends and family know.Doing this can help secure your first samples as a new writer. Your friend or family member may need you to edit their résumé or just write an ad for their flower shop. When you decide to quit your 9-5 job to do freelance writing full-time, let your work and coworkers know. They may end up being your first client and can provide you with your first testimonial! It’s also important to be ready at all times for potential writing gigs in your day-to-day life. This means creating business cards that you can quickly give to friends and family. You may also end up finding another writer in your town! I’ve met two freelance writers where I live and meet up with one of them regularly!

4. Network With Other Freelance Writers: You know, the best thing you can do for your new freelance writing biz is to network with other writers. Remember, we are all in this together and it isn’t a competition! When I first started, I reached out to a few freelance writers (that I was stalking at the time!) and asked them their opinion on a starting rate. While most said go with your gut, I was grateful for their interaction and their patience with my numerous questions.

A few months later, I had freelance writers refer work to me! How amazing was that? In fact, one writer introduced me to my ideal client and I can’t thank her enough! And now, when I’m swamped and can’t take on more freelance writing work, I offer my course students first dibs on potential jobs! It’s a win-win when you network. So, if you’ve been following a freelance writer – ahem, me! – go ahead and reach out them.